Casket-lowering device.



No. 703,949. Patented iuly l, I902.

H. B. MURDOCK.

CASKET LOWERING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

i l l I I I i E- x I (B E c z p INVENTOI? 71.15 mo d/c.

FKIMFM A TTOHNE Yr ms nonms PETERS co. PHOTOLITNO. WASHKNGYON, u. a.

Patehted July I, I902. H. B. MUBDOCK.

BASKET LOWERING DEVICE.

(Application mad Oct. 16, 1901.

2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A TTOHNEY INVENTOR IIIIIIIIIIIIIL UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE B. MURDooKQo'F; DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

"CAS KET-LOWERING DEVI-C E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,949, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed October 16, l90lj Serial No. 78,856. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it mty concern.-

Be it known that 1,-HRA0E B. MURDooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vaynefand State of Michigan, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Casket-Lowering Devices; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in casket-lowering devices, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for lowering caskets into graves, adapted to lessen thepossibility of the casket being violently thrown into the grave, owing to the attendants from any cause allowing the same to get away froin'their control.

With this object-in view my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts, as hereinafter described, and set'forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters represent similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view, partlyin section, of my improved device Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, partly in section and showing the casket in position. Fig. 3 is a section taken on. the line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig 4 is a side elevation ofone of the supportinglegs. Fig. 5. is a sectiontaken on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. dis a plan view of the'automatic device for releasing the ropes. Fig. 7 is a side elevation'of same, and Fig. 8'is a perspective View of'the brake or speed-governing device. o

A is a hollow frame or casing having suitable reinforced portions A, and in one end of this frame I provide an enlarged chamber B, in which aresuita'bly mounted the drums 0 O on the shafts c c. The drums C G are provided atone of their ends with the enlarged annular casing D D and the gearwheels E E, adapted to mesh with each other.

The drum 0 is mounted fast on the shaft 0, which passes through the hollow shoulder 11, formed integral with the chamber B.

The annular casing D contains a coiled spring d, secured at one end to the inside of the casing and at its other end to the hollow shoulder b, as shown at Fig. 2. V

The drum 0"s looselymounted on the shaft 0, and the shaft 0 is provided with the screw-threaded portion 0 asshown in Fig. 1. Both the shafts c and c are provided with squared ends to receive a key or operatingcrank 0.

The annular casing D contains a pair of semicylindrical clutch-plates d, adapted to frictionally engage the inside wall of the easing. Between these clutch-plates, adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof and supported by the lugsf, is the plate F, provided with the wedge-shaped ends f, most clearly shown in Fig. 8. This plate is internally screw-threaded centrally to engage the screwthreads 0 on the shaft 0'.

The frame A contains the grooved guidepulleys G G, H H, and I I for the ropes J and J, one of which ropes J is shown crossed hatched for clearer illustration. These pulleys are mounted at suitable angles for properly guiding the ropes, as clearly illustrated in Figsrl, 2, 3, and 5, and it will of course be understood that similar sets of pulleys will be provided at the opposite side of the frame A. I

The frame A'is supported by the detachable legs a, provided with the hooked ends a and projecting lug a (Illustrated in Fig. 4) The hooked ends a are adapted to engage a rod a, disposed longitudinally of the central portion of the frame A, and the leg being turned a quarter-revolution the lugs a? engage the sides of the frame, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,

and 4.

In order to release the ropes J andJ after the casket has been lowered, I provide an automatic device K of substantially the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7. To one end of each of the ropes is secured the U-shaped member L, provided with the transverse rod Z.

To the other end of the rope is secured the 5 member M, provided with the hooked end m, adapted to engage the transverse rod Z. The member M is provided with fiat springs N, adapted to engage the sides of the U-shaped member L.

The operation of the device is as follows: The ends of the two ropes being secured and the ropes drawn taut for holding the members of the locking device K in engagement, the ropes are then ready to receive the casket. By turning the shaft 0' the wedge-plate F is moved along the shaft, and, engaging between the clutch members (1 d, either forces said members apart, increasing the friction between the clutch-plates and the inner wall of the casing D, or by reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft reduces the frictional contact between said clutch members and the casing, and this braking mechanism can thus be so adjusted as to regulate the speed of descent of the casket. The operating-handle c is generally placed on the shaft 0 and is controlled by an attendant; but it is obvious that the frictional contact between the clutch-plates d and the inner wall of the casing D can be so regulated as to control the descent of the casket automatically. The casket having reached the bottom of the grave, the ropes are slackened, and the spring N, operating upon the member L of the locking device K, will press said member L downwardlyv and throw the rod Z out of engagement with the hook m of the member M, thus releasing the ends of the ropes, and the shaft 0 being rotated to sufficiently diminish the friction between the clutches d and the casing D the coil-spring d, now under tension, will rotate the drum 0 for winding up the ropes. Thus it will be seen that by my invention I do away with the necessity of the casket being actually handled by the cemetery attendants, thus permitting the body bearers, generally friends of the deceased, to be the ones to deposit the body at its final resting-place, which, it will be observed, is a much more respectful ceremony, obviating the indifierent handling which not infrequently occurs by the methods now in vogue.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 'ent of the United States, is-- 1. In a casket-lowering device,the co mbination of a spring-operated drum, a second drum operatively connected to said first drum,ropes carried by said drums, and means for regulating the speed of said drums.

2. In a casket-lowering device,the combination with a spring-operated drum, a second drum operatively connected to said first drum, a friction-clutch engaging said second drum for regulating the speed of saidtdrums, and

ropes carried by said drums.

3. In a casket-lowering device,the combination with the frame, of a hollow chamber formed in said frame, a pair of shafts revolubly mounted in said hollow chamber, a spring-operated drum secured fast to one of said shafts, a second drum ope'ratively connected to said first drum loosely mounted on the other of said. shafts, ropes carried by said drums, and means engaging said second drum for regulating the speed of said drums. 4:. Inacasket-loweringdevice,the combination with the frame, of a hollow chamber formed in said frame, a pair of shafts revolubly mounted in said hollow chamber, a drum secured fast to one of said shafts, a second drum, operatively connected with said'first drum, loosely mounted on the other of said shafts, a wedge-plate mounted on said second shaft and operative longitudinally thereof, clutchesin said second drum, engaging said Wedge-plate, means for operating said wedge-plate for regulating the speed of said drums, and ropes carried by said drums.

5. In a casket-lowering device,the combination with the frame, of a pair of revoluble drums, provided with an enlarged annular casing at one end thereof, mounted in said frame, a coiled spring inclosed in the casing of one of said drums, secured at its ends to said casing and frame, a clutch mechanism in the annular casing of said other drum, for controlling the speed of said drums, and ropes carried by said drums.

6. In a casket-lowerin g device,the combination with the hollow frame, of an enlarged chamber formed in said frame, a pair of shafts revolubly mounted in said enlarged chamber, a drum secured fast to one of said shafts, a second drum operatively connected with said first drum, loosely mounted on the other of said shafts, screw-threads on said second shaft, a wedge-plate mounted on said second shaft, engaging said screw-threads, clutches in said second drum, engaging said wedge-plate, pulleys suitably disposed in said hollow frame, and ropes reeving over said pulleys and connected to said drums.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE B. MURDOCK.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. GUTHARD, H. H. Emma. 

